The U.S. Air Force’s new trainer jet just got a new name.
The Boeing-built trainer jet — formerly known as the T-X — has been named the T-7A Red Hawk. The advanced jet’s new name honors the legacy of the famous Tuskegee Airmen and the Red Tail Squadron.
The Tuskegee Airmen were the first group of African-American military aviators to fly for the American armed forces during World War II. The Tuskegee Airmen broke down racial barriers in the American armed forces and at home while flying successful combat missions over Europe.
Their squadrons were referred to as Red Tails because the Tuskegee Airmen painted the noses and tails of their planes with red rings to differentiate themselves from other units. The T-7A honors their distinctive style and unmatched legacy.
The Red Hawk also pays tribute to the Curtis P-40 Warhawk, an American fighter jet flown by the U.S. Army Air Forces’ first African-American fighter squadron.
The T-7A Red Hawk gives the Air Force a versatile, cutting edge trainer jet that will evolve alongside the technologies and missions of the future while honoring the heroes of the past.